Land Forces
MAPW was present at the Land Forces 2024 protests in Melbourne and has expressed concern for those injured when violence erupted on Wednesday.
Protest should be peaceful, and policing should be proportionate to the right to protest. Highly militarised protest management, indiscriminate use of weapons with wide-area effects such as tear gas, and failure to differentiate between peaceful and non-peaceful individuals all infringe on our fundamental right to protest.
And we’re disappointed that, despite our best efforts, most media coverage failed to engage with the substantive issues driving protest against an arms fair in Melbourne. The global arms trade profits from and facilitates immense human harm around the world, and should not be glorified or normalised.
Happily, our vigil on Thursday evening was a peaceful and moving event – thanks to Healthcare Workers for Palestine for organising, and to MAPW members who joined us there. Read Croakey News’ coverage by clicking here.
UniMelb and Weapons Companies
MAPW’s long-running campaign to sever University of Melbourne’s links to weapons companies was covered in The Citizen and co-published in Crikey News.
Submissions, submissions, submissions!
Submissions to parliamentary inquiries are an important way to influence policy. We’ve recently submitted to inquiries on Australia’s sanctions regimes, the wrongful detention of Australian citizens overseas, and on the updated agreement for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion.
You can find these documents – and much more – in our new Library page.
Global Week of Action on Nuclear Spending
Today kicks off this global week drawing attention to the squandering of immense amounts of public money on nuclear weapons. Our Quit Nukes team is busy finishing off our latest report on major Australian super funds’ investments in nuclear weapons – watch this space!
Healthcare Students Association for Prevention of War (HSAPW)
Congrats to the HSAPW team on their recent and very excellent online event, Gaza Chronicles.
And we’re also delighted to announce that HSAPW has received a ScholarX Brick Builder Curriculum Development Grant to develop an online learning module on the effects of war on health. This is an HSAPW initiative supported by Prof Rob Moodie and A/Prof Tania King from University of Melbourne and Dr Kim Griswold from University of Buffalo.
Are you a RANZCP member?
If you are a current member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, please support this open letter on Gaza, written by a group of psychiatry trainees and consultants. The letter asks the college to:
- Demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire;
- Condemn attacks on civilians, healthcare workers, and infrastructure;
- Advocate for the safe delivery of nutrition, clean water, sanitation, shelter and medical supplies;
- Advocate for measures to prevent the risk of genocide; and
- Advocate for an end to the system of apartheid.
If you are a member, please add your name to the letter by 29 September, and ask your fellow college members to join you!
Events
Raising Peace Festival | Online, 8 – 22 September
In 2024, along with a calendar of local events, Raising Peace is hosting the Australian segment of World Beyond War’s “#NoWar2024 Conference: Resisting the USA’s Military Empire.” This event starts in Australia in person and streamed from the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts on the morning of 21 September, with later sessions in Germany, Colombia and the USA.
Launch of the Australian Peace and Security Forum | Online, 24 September
The APSF is a new organisation that advocates for a broad national peace and security strategy, developed by the Federal Government, with input from the wider community. You can participate in the official APSF launch, with special guests including Andrew Wilkie MP.
IPAN 7th Biennial National Conference | Perth and online, 4-6 October
Join the IPAN conference in person in Perth or online from wherever you are! MAPW will be amongst the speakers presenting on AUKUS, education, war and the environment and much more.
You can also join IPAN’s webinar – featuring Professor Richard Tanter and Dr Vince Scappatura on nuclear capable B52’s – tonight Monday 16 September at 7 pm AEST.